Building construction



June 27, 1967 G. J COOPER 3,327,438

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (6 m 9' INVENTOR Gordon J. Cooper BY M ATTORNEY June 27, COOPER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-$heet :1:

Filed Feb. 24. 1964 Fig.2.

June 27, 1967 G. J. COOPER 3,327,438

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1964 4 Sheets-Shet Fig. 6.

United States Patent 3,327,438 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Gordon Jack Cooper, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,821 15 Claims. (Cl. 52-205) This invention relates, generally, to building constructions and, more particularly, to ceiling and partition means for the interiors of buildings.

Many modern buldings have ceilings of the suspended or drop type in order to provide space above the celling for heating and air conditioning equipment and also electrical wiring. In oflice buildings it is desirable to provide partitions which can be readily moved from one location to another.

An object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide ceiling and partition structural members which are simple and effective in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide extruded structural members which are of a sturdy construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide structural members which may be readily assembled and retained in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ceiling supporting member which may also be utilized to retain movable partitions in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a grid structure for supporting ceiling panels which may be of either a luminous or an acoustical type.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, inverted generally channel-shaped ceiling members of a predetermined length are joined together at their ends by equilateral crosses to form a framework of square grids. Inverted generally T-shaped ceiling members divide each square grid into two rectangular parts. Laterally extending flanges on the legs of the channel members and the T-members support rectangular ceiling panels. A generally channel-shaped snap-in-member is retained in each channel member in either a raised or a lowered position. When raised, its base is flush with the face of the channel member. When lowered, it retains a glazing channel in position. The glazing channel retains a partition wall panel in position. The snap-in member may also be utilized with the glazing channel to retain a doorjam channel in position.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference may be had to the fol lowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a ceiling structure embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, in perspective, of a portion of a room having wall partition members embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, partly in section, showing the manner of supporting one end of a ceiling member on a generally L-shaped member attached to a wall of a building;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view showing the manner of joining and supporting the ends of four ceiling channel members;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the manner of inserting a supporting angle clip into grooves in the L- shaped member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, in section, taken along the line VIVI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, in section, taken along the line VIIVII in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view, in section, of the T-shaped ceiling member;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the angle-shaped supporting clip;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view, in section, of the snap-in member;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view, in section, taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the T-shaped supporting clip.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, the ceiling structure shown therein comprises a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members 10 which are joined together to form a framework of square grids, a plurality of inverted T-shaped members 11 which are disposed between the channel members 10 to divide the square grids into rectangles, and a plurality of ceiling panels 12 which are supported by the channel members '10 and the T members 11. The ceiling is of the suspended or drop type which provides space between the present ceiling and the building floor or structural framework above the drop ceiling. The ceiling panels maybe of either a luminous or an acoustical type and of a standard size, such as 2' x 4.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, one end of each of the channel members 10 is mitered at two angles. The abutting ends of four channel members 10 are supported by an equilateral cross 13 which is suspended from the structural framework of the building (not shown) by means of a bolt 14 threaded into a nut 15 which may be welded to the cross 13. Each arm of the cross 13 is disposed in horizontally spaced grooves 16 provided in horizontally spaced ribs 17 on top of the channel member 10 to form a guideway 18 which extends the length of the channel member 11). Thus, one of the supporting bolts 14 may be provided at each corner of the square grids of the ceiling framework, thereby providing ceiling supports at 4' centers.

As also shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the ends of the inverted T members 11 may be supported by generally T-shaped clips 21. As shown most clearly in FIG. 12, each clip 21 comprises two spaced stems or legs 22 which are secured to a flange or head 23 by welding or other suitable means. As shown in FIG. 4, the head 23 is slidably disposed in two vertically spaced grooves 24 provided in Vertically spaced ribs 25 on the side of the channel member 10. The stem or leg 26 of the T member 11 may be inserted between the spaced legs 22 of the clip 21 and retained in position by a bolt or other suitable fastening means inserted through openings 27 in the clip 21 and a matching opening 28 in the T member 11.

When the T member 11 is in its proper position, the end of a flange or head 31 on the T member abuts against a flange 32 on the channel member 10. The bottom faces of the flanges 31 and 32 are in alignment or flush. A horizontally extending flange 32 is provided on each side of the channel member 10. Likewise, grooves 24 are provided on each side for receiving a clip 21. Therefore, a T member 11 may be supported at each side of the channel member 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ceiling panels 12 are supported by the flanges 31 and 32 on the T members 11 and the channel members 10, respectively. Since the ceiling panels 12 merely rest on the flanges 31 and 32, they may be raised at any time to provide access to the space above the drop ceiling.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5, an end of a channel member 10 may be supported on a partition or wall 33 of the building by means of a generally L- shaped member 34 and an angle clip 35. One leg of the L-shaped member 34 may be attached to the wall 33 by means of screws 36. Two vertically spaced grooves 37 are provided in the member 34- to provide a guideway 38 along the member 34. One leg 41, which is bent at right angles to the other leg 42 of the clip 35, is slidably disposed in the guideway 38. The leg 42 of the clip 35 is disposed in grooves 24 on the channel member 10, thereby supporting the channel member. When the channel member is in its correct position, the ends of its flanges 32 abut against the one leg 39 of the L-shaped member 34. A clip 35 may be provided at each side of the channel member 10 to properly support the channel member.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. and 9, the angle clip 35 is so constructed that the leg 41 may be inserted into the guideway 38 on the L-shaped member 34 at any position along the guideway. The dimensions of the leg 41 are such that it may be inserted into the guideway when it is in the position shown in FIG. 5. After it is inserted into the guideway, the clip may be rotated 90 to cause diagonally opposite corners of the leg 41 to engage the sides of the grooves 37 to retain the clip in the guideway 38. Opposite edges of the leg 41 are angularly disposed to permit the clip 35 to be rotated in the guideway 38.

In order that the channel members may be utilized to retain partition panels in position as well as to support the ceiling panels, a generally channel-shaped snapin member 45 is removably disposed in each inverted channel member. The snap-in member 45 may be formed from a vinyl resin or other suitable material. As shown most clearly in FIG. 10, the legs of the channel member are normally flared outwardly slightly and the upper end of each leg is provided with an outwardly extending rounded flange or head 46.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, each channel member 10 is provided with two vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced grooves 47 and 48 which extend longitudinally of the channel member on the inside of the channel member. Thus, the snap-in member 45 may be frictionally retained in the channel member 10 in either a raised position or a lowered position. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, when the snap-in member 45 is in its raised position, the beads 46 are disposed in the upper pair of grooves 48 and the base of the channel member 45 is substantially flush with the lower faces of the flanges 32 on the inverted channel 10.

When it is desired to utilize the channel member 10 to retain the upper end of a partition wall in position, the snap-in member 45 is placed in its lowered position with the beads 46 disposed in the lower pair of grooves 47 in the channel member 10. As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, a generally channel-shaped glazing channel 51 may be disposed on the snap-in member 45 when it is in its lowered position. Each leg of the glasing channel 51 has an inwardly extending flange 52 which engages the snap-in member 45. Two horizontally spaced generally channel-shaped recesses 53 are provided in the base of the glazing channel 51. Horizontally spaced inwardly extending projections or flanges 54 are provided at the entrances to the recesses 53. A generally channelshaped glazing member 55 is frictionally retained in each recess 53. The legs of the glazing members 55 are provided with grooves 56 for receiving the flanges 54 to retain the glazing members in position. The glazing members 55 may be formed with a vinyl resin or other suitable material. The base of each glazing member 55 has an outwardly extending flange 57 which engages a partition panel 58 to retain the panel in position between the flanges 57 on the glazing members 55. The partition panels 58 may be composed of a decorative material or they may be glass.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, the glazing channel 51 and the snap-in member may also be utilized to retain a doorjamb channel 61in position. Each leg of the generally channel-shaped member 61 has an inwardly extending flange 62 which is spaced from an inwardly extending flange 63 on a rib 64 on the inside of the channel member 61. Thus, the beads 46 on the snap-in member 45 are disposed between the flanges 62 and 63 to retain the channel member 61 on the snap-in member 45 which is disposed in the glazing channel 51. As shown in FIG. 6, the member 61 has an external flange 65 which extends perpendicularly to the base of the channel member 61. A groove is provided in the flange 65 for receiving a resilient bumper 67. The channels 51 and 61 may be disposed vertically as well as horizontally to provide a doorjarnb at the sides and across the top of a doorway.

As shown in FIG. 11, the glazing channels 51 may also be disposed in a vertical or upright position and utilized as vertical supports for wall panels 58. Two channels 51 may be disposed at right angles to form a corner construction as shown in FIG. 11. Two vertically disposed channel members 51 may be mounted back-to-back at desired locations in a partition wall to retain the partition panels in position. This arrangement has not been illustrated, as it is believed to be apparent in view of the arrangements which have been illustrated and described herein.

The members 10, 11, 34, 51 and 61 are preferably composed of aluminum or some other material which is suitable tor utilization in an extrusion process by which these members may be formed. As previously explained, the members 45 and are preferably molded from a vinyl resin material.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the invention provides a structural system which is particularly suitable for use in the interior of buildings having drop or suspended ceilings and movable or changeable partition walls. A relatively small number of members of different shapes are required to perform the necessary functions in a system of the present type. The members may be economically manufactured and readily assembled in a building structure. The system has a high degree of flexibility since it permits the interchanging of the ceiling panels and the changing of the location of the wall partitions.

Since ,numerousc hanges may be made .in the above-- described construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a suspended ceiling for the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a grid-like framework,

said inverted channel members having outwardly ex-' tending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members and generally channel-shaped members removably disposed in the inverted channel members.

2. In a suspended ceiling for the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members, and

generally channel-shaped members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members.

3. In a suspended ceiling for the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members, and

each of said channel-shaped members being movable from a raised position to a lowered position in one of the inverted channel members.

4. In a suspended ceiling for the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members,

each of said channel-shaped members being movable from a lowered position to a raised position in one of the inverted channel members, and

the bottom of the channel-shaped member being substantially flush with the flanges on the inverted channel member when the channel-shaped member is in its raised position.

5. In a ceiling of the drop type for use in a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a framework of square grids, at least four of said channel-shaped members having their ends in abutting relation,

inverted generally T-shaped members dividing the square grids into rectangles,

said channel members and said T members having horizontal flanges thereon for supporting ceiling panels,

grooved means at the top of the inverted channel members,

an equilateral cross disposed in said grooved means at said abutting ends,

means attached to said cross for supporting the channel members from the building structural members,

additional grooved means at the sides of the channel members, generally T-shaped means slidably disposed in the additional grooved means for supporting ends of the T members,

spaced grooves on the inside of the channel members,

and

generally channel-shaped snap-in members disposed in said spaced grooves.

6. In a ceiling of the drop type for use in a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a framework of square grids, at least four of said channel-shaped members having their ends in abutting relation,

inverted generally T-shaped members dividing the square grids into rectangles,

said channel members and said T members having horizontal flanges thereon for supporting ceiling panels,

grooved means at the top of the inverted channel members,

an equilateral cross disposed in said grooved means at said abutting ends,

means attached to said cross for supporting the channel members from the building structural members,

additional grooved means at the sides of the channel members, generally T-shaped means slidably disposed in the additional grooved means for supporting ends of the T-members,

vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced grooves on the inside of the channel members, and

generally channel-shaped snap-in members disposed in selected pairs of said grooves.

7. In a ceiling of the drop type for use in a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a framework of square grids with the ends of certain of said channelshaped members intersecting in an abutting relation,

inverted generally T-shaped members dividing the square grids into rectangles,

said channel members and said T members having horizontal flanges thereon for supporting ceiling panels,

grooved means at the top of the inverted channel members,

an equilateral cross disposed in said grooved means at the abutting ends of said intersecting channel members,

means attached to said cross for supporting the channel members from the building structural members,

additional grooved means at the sides of the channel members, generally T-shaped means slidably disposed in the additional grooved means for supporting ends of the T members,

vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced grooves on the inside of the channel members, and

generally channel-shaped snap-in members releasably retained in said grooves in either a raised position or a lowered position.

8. In a ceiling of the drop type for use in a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a framework of square grids with the ends of certain of said channel-shaped members intersecting in an abutting relation,

inverted generally T-shaped members dividing the square grids into rectangles,

said channel members and said T members having horizontal flanges thereon for supporting ceiling panels,

grooved means at the top of the inverted channel members,

an equilateral cross disposed in said grooved means at said abutting ends of said intersecting channel members,

means attached to said cross for supporting the channel members from the building structural members,

additional grooved means at the sides of the channel members, generally T-shaped means slidably disposed in the additional grooved means for supporting ends of the T members,

vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced grooves on the inside of the channel members,

generally channel-shaped snap-in members releasably retained in said grooves in either a lowered position or a raised position,

the bottom surfaces of the snap-in members being substantially flush with the faces of the flanges on the channel members when the snap-in members are in the raised position.

9. In a ceiling of the drop type for use in a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members disposed horizontally to form a framework of square gride with the ends of certain of said channelshaped members intersecting in an abutting relation,

inverted generally T-shaped members dividing the square grids into rectangles,

said channel members and said T members having horizontal flanges thereon for supporting ceiling panels,

grooved means at the top of the inverted channel members,

an equilateral cross disposed in said grooved means at said abutting ends of said intersecting channel members,

means attached to said cross for supporting the channel members from the building structural members,

additional grooved means at the sides of the channel members, generally T-shaped means slidably disposed in the additional grooved means for supporting ends of the T members,

generally L-shaped members attached to the building structure,

grooved means on the L-shaped members, and

angle-shaped members disposed in the grooved means on the channel members and on the L-shaped members for supporting ends of the channel members.

10. In ceiling and partition means for the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members assembled horizontally at right angles to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped snap-in members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members in either a raised position or a lowered position,

glazing channels disposed on the snap-in members when they are in their lowered position,

each glazing channel having two generally channelshaped recesses in its base, and

a glazing member disposed in each recess for retaining a partition panel in position between the glazing members.

11. In ceiling and partition means for the interior of building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members assembled horizontally at right angles to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped snap-in members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members in either a raised position or a lowered position,

glazing channels disposed on the snap-in members when they are in their lowered position,

each glazing channel having two horizontally spaced generally channel-shaped recesses in its base, and a glazing member frictionally retained in each recess for retaining a partition panel in position between the glazing members.

12. In ceiling and partition means for the interior of building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members assembled horizontally at right angles to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting theframework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped snap-in members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members in either a raised position or a lowered position,

glazing channels disposed on the snap-in members when they are in their lowered position,

each glazing channel having two horizontally spaced generally channel-shaped recesses in its base,

a generally channel-shaped glazing member frictionally retained in each recess,

a partition panel having one edge disposed between said glazing members,

an additional glazing channel disposed on another edge of the partition panel,

a snap-in member invertedly disposed in the additional glazing channel, and

a doorjamb channel disposed on the inverted snap-in member.

13. In ceiling and partition means for .the interior of a building having structural members, in combination,

a plurality of inverted generally channel-shaped members assembled horizontally at right angles to form a grid-like framework,

said channel members having outwardly extending flanges for supporting ceiling panels,

means for supporting the framework from the building structural members,

generally channel-shaped snap-in members frictionally retained in the inverted channel members in either a raised position or a lowered position,

glazing channels disposed on the snap-in members when they are in their lowered position,

each glazing channel having two horizontally spaced generally channel-shaped recesses in its base,

a generally channel-shaped glazing member frictionally retained in each recess,

a partition panel having one edge disposed between said glazing members,

an additional glazing channel disposed on another edge of the partition panel,

a snap-in member invertedly disposed on the additional glazing channel,

a doorjamb channel frictionally retained on the inverted snap-in member, and

a flange on the doorjamb channel for engaging a door.

14. In partition means for the interior of a building,

in combination,

a generally channel-shaped glazing channel having an inwardly extending flange on each side,

a snap-in member disposed between the flanges,

a doorjamb channel member having inwardly extending flanges engaging the snap-in member, and

a flange extending from the base of the doorjamb channel for engaging a door.

15. A ceiling frame member comprising an inverted channel having an outwardly extending flange on the lower edge of each side wall of the channel,

vertically spaced ribs on each side wall forming two vertically spaced grooves along the exterior of each side wall,

horizontally spaced ribs on the top of the inverted channel forming .two horizontally spaced grooves along the exterior of the top, and

each side wall having two vertically spaced grooves along the interior of the channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,977 11/1935 Hult et al. 52-241 X 2,209,375 7/1940 Anderson 52-479 3,001,246 9/1961 Mather 52-627 3,016,993 l/1962 Owen 52-397 3,038,568 6/1962 Morgan 52-731 X 3,072,226 1/1963 Harwood 52-241 X 3,130,455 4/1964 Borlenghi 52-211 X 3,173,179 3/1965 Edwards 52-731 X 3,190,208 6/1965 Styne et a1. 52-238 X 3,205,630 9/1965 Felix et a1. 52-241 X 3,212,224 10/1965 Spangenberg 52-489 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner.

HARRISON R. M'OSELEY, Examiner. 

12. IN CEILING AND PARTITION MEANS FOR THE INTERIOR OF A BUILDING HAVING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF INVERTED GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS ASSEMBLED HORIZONTALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO FORM A GRID-LIKE FRAMEWORK, SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES FOR SUPPORTING CEILING PANELS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE FRAMEWORK FROM THE BUILDING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED SNAP-IN MEMBERS FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN THE INVERTED CHANNEL MEMBERS IN EITHER A RAISED POSITION OR A LOWERED POSITION, GLAZING CHANNELS DISPOSED ON THE SNAP-IN MEMBERS WHEN THEY ARE IN THEIR LOWERED POSITION, EACH GLAZING CHANNEL HAVING TWO HORIZONTALLY SPACED GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED RECESS IN ITS BASE, A GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED GLAZING MEMBER FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN EACH RECESS, A PARTITION PANEL HAVING ONE EDGE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID GLAZING MEMBERS, AN ADDITIONAL GLAZING CHANNEL DISPOSED ON ANOTHER EDGE OF THE PARTITION PANEL, A SNAP-IN MEMBER INVERTEDLY DISPOSED IN THE ADDITIONAL GLAZING CHANNEL, AND A DOORJAMB CHANNEL DISPOSED ON THE INVERTED SNAP-IN MEMBER. 